This is the year I turn 60! Having always been active – hiking, biking, trekking, walking, running and working out at the gym, I would like to stay that way. My 60th birthday is in June and I have decided to complete 60 hikes by then. Follow this blog to join me on those trails . . .
Me . . . on Saddle Rock
A former business process analyst, about ten years ago I was diagnosed with a very severe idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Accepting an early retirement in order to focus on regaining my health, my goal at that time was simply to stay OFF of the heart transplant list. I spent the next couple of years visiting a series of top-notch cardiologists, enduring medical test after medical test and being given different combinations of powerful heart medications. Then several more months were spent at a cardiac rehab center followed by a gradual (yet persistent) increase in exercise as I struggled to rebuild my strength and heart health. Finally, after more than three years of very close monitoring by the cardiologists and diligent effort on my part, my heart condition had stabilized and the doctors (and I) were confident that my heart was once again functioning normally.
To this day, I continue to succeed at maintaining normal heart function by taking care of myself – eating healthy, staying active, exercising regularly, living a simple, stress-free lifestyle, always taking my prescribed heart medications and by staying in touch with the cardiologist for regular annual checkups and tests. I maintain a gym membership each winter, and workout several times a week utilizing the cardio equipment and circuit weight training areas. My real passion for getting exercise is outdoors though, so when the Pacific Northwest is NOT under a huge cloud cover and the rain is NOT coming down sideways, you will find me outside on a hiking trail instead of at the gym.
I do not know if the thought of turning sixty will feel (feels, or felt) particularly tramatic or not for the rest of you, but perhaps because I feel that I had to work so hard, and for so long, just to regain my health, it does feel important to me to be able to complete sixty hikes before I turn sixty years.
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In addition to Sixty Before Sixty (Hikes Before Years), here is a list of my other blogs:
More from – Really Rose (Misc. stuff, 7/2011 through current)
Really Rose (Archives, 12/2007 through 07/2011)
Really Quilts (Archives, 2006 through 2008)
Sixty Before Sixty 
Hello, and thank you for following The Long Way There! I can only imagine the kinds of scenery you get to walk through out there in the west, and hope you will enjoy what I have to share from the east. -Cheers!
Hi- What is the lake on your cover image?
Thanks,
Viet
PS- You’re an inspiration to us all.
Hi Viet, and thanks for visiting my Sixty Before Sixty blog. That is Lake Ann in the background of my cover photo. It was taken along the Heather/Maple Pass Loop Trail during one of our backpacking trips – see Hike #77 for more information –
Happy trails to you . . .
Hello,
I am a graphic Designer at the Ferndale Record newspaper. I’m putting together the Ferndale Chamber Directory book. I was searching on the internet about hiking trails in the area and I came across your blog. There are several great photos on there and I wanted to see if you would let us use one for the “Recreation and Sports” section of the book. You would be given credit of coarse. The photo I’m most interested in is the photo of the boardwalk through the wooded marsh in Hovander Park.
Let me know either way.
Thanks for your time,
Leah
Hi Leah,
Yes, thank you for asking. I’d be honored if you would use one of my photos in the Ferndale Chamber Directory book that you are putting together. Please let me know if you would like me to send you a copy of the image through email.
Thanks!
Love your blog! I just moved to Whatcom County from Montana and love to hike with my family of 5. Your blog has given me so many great ideas as well as motivation to stay healthy and enjoy the beautiful outdoors we are so blessed with here. Happy Hiking!!
What a fun challenge. I have a blog with 60 challenges to complete by 60… started two years ago, one more year to go. Obviously you did your 60 hikes by 60…and have kept on hiking. I was thinking of doing a post on blogs with “by 60” challenges. Any input or insight you could give me?
An inspiration to all of us FiftySomthings! I will be turning 55 soon and hope to get in half the hikes you have before I turn 60. I use to backpack a lot in my 30’s and 40’s an really need to sojourn back to the High Sierras.